Barnsley

Barnsley's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in relationships, health and housing tenure.

The population passed 230,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Barnsley increased by 6.0%, from about 218,000 to 231,000.

The addition of about 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Barnsley was home to, on average, 5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Yorkshire and The Humber, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Barnsley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Barnsley increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than Yorkshire and The Humber and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 6,300 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 7,000.

About 16% of people in Barnsley are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Barnsley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

This area saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

During this period, Barnsley overtook 77 local authority areas, including Fenland and Medway, to become the English local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of cohabiting households.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in Barnsley had an unmarried couple, compared with 9.0% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person increased from 28% to 30%.

The largest increase occurred in Gateshead (from 7.6% to 11%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Barnsley increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

This area saw Yorkshire and The Humber's second-largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

Across the region, only Sheffield saw a greater rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good (from 65% to 80%).

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Yorkshire and The Humber saw a rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good, as the regional average grew from 67% to 80%.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75%) in Barnsley said their health was good or very good, compared with 61% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased from 14% to 8.4%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health was lower than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of usual residents that that said their health was good or very good across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

This area saw Yorkshire and The Humber's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

Across the region, only North Lincolnshire (from 11% to 13%) and Hambleton (from 8.9% to 11%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

Every local authority area across Yorkshire and The Humber saw a rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, as the regional average grew from 11% to 12%.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 and over in Barnsley said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 53% to 48%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Barnsley that rented privately increased from 7.2% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in five (21%) households lived in social housing, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of Barnsley households that owner their home increased from 64% to 64%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Yorkshire and The Humber (from 9.1% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Barnsley increased by 5.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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